Earth’s mantle
Quick Summary
The Earth's mantle is the layer of rock between the crust and the core, making up 83% of Earth's volume and 67% of its mass. It is primarily composed of silicate minerals rich in magnesium and iron.12
The mantle is divided into the upper and lower mantle. The upper mantle extends to about 650 km (400 miles) below the surface and includes the asthenosphere, a weaker, partially molten layer upon which the rigid lithospheric plates slide. The lower mantle extends to the core-mantle boundary at about 2,900 km (1,800 miles) deep.321
Processes within the mantle, particularly convection currents, are believed to drive plate tectonics. These currents cause hotter material to rise and cooler material to sink, influencing surface phenomena like earthquakes and volcanism. Seismic tomography reveals complex structures within the mantle, including subducted slabs that may sink to the core-mantle boundary.324
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chemical elementThe Earth’s mantleThe mantle comprises that part of the Earth between the Mohorovičić and the Wiechert–Gutenberg discontinuities. It makes up 83 percent of the volume of the Earth and 67 percent of its mass and is thus of decisive importance in determining the bulk composition…
Read MoreThe mantle comprises that part of the Earth between the Mohorovičić and the Wiechert–Gutenberg discontinuities. It makes up 83 percent of the volume of the Earth and 67 percent of its mass and is thus of decisive importance in determining the bulk composition…
Read More- chemical elementEarly history of the Earth
For the mantle and the core the information is indirect and thus much less precise. The origin of the Earth by the accretion of planetesimals is a well-founded hypothesis, however, and meteorites are probably examples of planetesimals that have survived from the preplanetary stage of the solar…
Read MoreFor the mantle and the core the information is indirect and thus much less precise. The origin of the Earth by the accretion of planetesimals is a well-founded hypothesis, however, and meteorites are probably examples of planetesimals that have survived from the preplanetary stage of the solar…
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eclogite…the deeper portions of the Earth’s upper mantle, the mantle constituting the layer that lies between the crust and core and that comprises about two-thirds of the planet’s bulk. These conditions are found in subduction zones where the ocean floor is forced beneath a continental margin—such as in the Cascadia…
Read More…the deeper portions of the Earth’s upper mantle, the mantle constituting the layer that lies between the crust and core and that comprises about two-thirds of the planet’s bulk. These conditions are found in subduction zones where the ocean floor is forced beneath a continental margin—such as in the Cascadia…
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metamorphic rockEclogite facies…that part of the upper mantle might be made of eclogite. Such a view is supported by eclogitic intrusions in volcanic rocks and by eclogitic inclusions in diamond-bearing kimberlite, which must come from the upper mantle. Some workers also think that eclogites found in metamorphic terrains in Norway, California, U.S.,…
Read More…that part of the upper mantle might be made of eclogite. Such a view is supported by eclogitic intrusions in volcanic rocks and by eclogitic inclusions in diamond-bearing kimberlite, which must come from the upper mantle. Some workers also think that eclogites found in metamorphic terrains in Norway, California, U.S.,…
Read More- metamorphic rock
Because most of Earth’s mantle is solid, metamorphic processes may also occur there. Mantle rocks are seldom observed at the surface because they are too dense to rise, but occasionally a glimpse is presented by their inclusion in volcanic materials. Such rocks may represent samples from a depth…
Read MoreBecause most of Earth’s mantle is solid, metamorphic processes may also occur there. Mantle rocks are seldom observed at the surface because they are too dense to rise, but occasionally a glimpse is presented by their inclusion in volcanic materials. Such rocks may represent samples from a depth…
Read More - forsterite-fayalite series
…most important constituents of the Earth’s mantle. Included in the series are the following varieties: forsterite magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4) and fayalite iron silicate (Fe2SiO4).
Read More…most important constituents of the Earth’s mantle. Included in the series are the following varieties: forsterite magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4) and fayalite iron silicate (Fe2SiO4).
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olivineMeteorites and the Earth’s mantle…the rocks of the upper mantle directly below the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho) are believed to consist of peridotite and garnetiferous peridotite that contain olivines as their most abundant minerals, it is important to establish their behaviour when subjected to high pressures. Study of the olivine-like compound magnesium germanate, Mg2GeO4, showed…
Read More…the rocks of the upper mantle directly below the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho) are believed to consist of peridotite and garnetiferous peridotite that contain olivines as their most abundant minerals, it is important to establish their behaviour when subjected to high pressures. Study of the olivine-like compound magnesium germanate, Mg2GeO4, showed…
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datingRhenium–osmium method… is strongly concentrated in the mantle and extremely depleted in the crust, so that crustal osmium must have exceedingly high radiogenic-to-stable ratios while the mantle values are low. In fact, crustal levels are so low that they are extremely difficult to measure with current technology. Most work to date has…
Read More… is strongly concentrated in the mantle and extremely depleted in the crust, so that crustal osmium must have exceedingly high radiogenic-to-stable ratios while the mantle values are low. In fact, crustal levels are so low that they are extremely difficult to measure with current technology. Most work to date has…
Read More- pyrolite
…mineralogic composition of the upper mantle of the Earth. The relative abundances of the principal metallic element components (except iron) are similar to those in chondritic meteorites and in the solar photosphere. Accordingly, it is reasonable to assume that to a first approximation these abundances are applicable to the entire…
Read More…mineralogic composition of the upper mantle of the Earth. The relative abundances of the principal metallic element components (except iron) are similar to those in chondritic meteorites and in the solar photosphere. Accordingly, it is reasonable to assume that to a first approximation these abundances are applicable to the entire…
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rockRadioactive heat generation…by partial melting of the upper-mantle and oceanic-crust rock. The radioactive elements tend to be preferentially driven off from these rocks for geochemical reasons. A compilation of heat productivities of various rock types is given in the Table.
Read More…by partial melting of the upper-mantle and oceanic-crust rock. The radioactive elements tend to be preferentially driven off from these rocks for geochemical reasons. A compilation of heat productivities of various rock types is given in the Table.
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